Frances Hodgson Burnett once said ‘I am writing in the garden. To write as one should of a garden one must write not outside it or merely somewhere near it, but in the garden.’
Similarly, just listening to stories of or talking about Coorg will not even come close to experiencing the land of the Kodavas. All it takes is one visit to this extraordinary land to leave a part of your soul behind.
Living in a city, you can quite forget the beauty and power of Nature and its entire splendor. Being stuck in traffic jams twice a day does not help either. When you feel the need to claim your life back into your own hands and to release your soul from all the stress of day-to-day existence, the best place to be is Coorg. Coorg is not just verdant hills, or impromptu waterfalls, animals strolling across the road, or peace and quiet to please your heart. It is also unrivaled hospitality, a culture that is unique, the homeland of a proud and brave race called the Kodavas and above all, a haven to rejuvenate your soul.
The only way to get to Coorg is by road. As you drive up the Western Ghats, you get the sensation of being in a different world. The forest encloses you in a protective embrace and the air suddenly feels lighter and more fragrant.
As a visitor here, it is better to arrive in daylight, since the darkness is so absolute, it can take a city dweller by surprise. A few years ago, there were only a handful of places to stay, but now, there are innumerable options for all budgets. From Bed and Breakfast homestays, to the better-known resorts, there is no dearth of accommodation. The homestays are one of the best ways to enjoy Coorg hospitality.
Other than relaxing and enjoying the atmosphere, there are a variety of activities and quite a few places of interest to see. Activities could include, walking in the coffee estates, a tour of different floriculture and spice plantations by private planters, biking, trekking, angling and savouring the distinctive cuisine of Coorg.
Some of the places of interest that you can visit while on holiday are Iruppu Falls that has a temple dedicated by Lord Rama, while on exile, to Lord Shiva. It is a place of pilgrimage to thousands of devotees during the Shivarathri festival and is also believed to have the power to cleanse a person of his sins.
The Nagarahole National Park, which covers an area of 284 sq. kms, and its exotic wildlife form the country’s first ‘bio-sphere reserve’. The Forest Department conducts tours along pre-defined routes for tourists, in the early mornings and evenings. One can be sure of seeing bison, elephant, spotted deer, sambhar, barking deer, wild boar, mongoose, peacock, jungle fowl and many other birds and animals. Lucky ones may get to see a tiger, a panther or even a king cobra.
At Bagamandala stands a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is also the confluence of the rivers Cauvery, Kannike and Sujyothi. TalaCauvery is the birthplace of the river Cauvery and a place of religious interest.
The Nalaknad Palace, built in 1792 by Doddaveeraraja, served as the royal hunting lodge and summer home of the Kodagu kings.
The Igguthappa temple, dedicated to Lord Igguthappa and the St. Anne’s church at Virajpet are also places of interest for their architecture and history. There is the Kabbe Falls as well, which is at its best between the months of June and November.
The district headquarters of Coorg, Madikeri, is also another place of interest. Besides having a variety of shops and restaurants, you could also visit Raja Seat, Gaddige (the Raja’s Tomb), Stewart Hill, Abby falls, the Omkareshwar, Chowdeshwari and Rajarajeshwari temples, and the Fort which now houses the courts, the jail and a museum.
And if all this still does not stir your soul to poetry, then the birds of Coorg should definitely set your heart aflutter. With varieties like Malabar whistling thrush, the Racket Tailed Drongo, Imperial pigeon, Ruby Throated bulbul, Fairy Bluebird, Little Spiderhunter, Spotted Babbler, Jerdon’s Blackbird, Orange Headed Ground Thrush, Paradise Flycatcher etc, Coorg is truly a bird watcher’s paradise.
Once this land has worked its magic on you, you can go back to day-to-day life a changed and refreshed person, better able to cope with the world.
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